Tips on Homeopathy

What Is Homeopathy?

Submitted By: Kathy Gruver, MS, LMT, RM

Healing Circle Massage

 

It's back to school time and parents know what that means....cold and flu season. Antibiotics, flu shots and over the counter medications are certainly options, but what about an alternative solution that's been around for 200 years? Homeopathics have been used for centuries to treat ailments and illnesses with great success...and no side effects. They are easy to give to children and can be very effective for illness such as ear aches, colds and sore throats. But the first question...what the heck is homeopathy?

 

Homeopathy works on the principal of "like cures like" that giving someone a minute dose of a substance will cause the body to eliminate symptoms that in a large dose would cause those same symptoms. (So if a big dose would cause a fever, a homeopathic dose would eliminate the fever.) Basically, you're giving a teeny-weeny amount of a substance to jump start the body's own defenses to act on the problem. Let's look at the principles of Classical Homeopathy.

 

Classical Homeopathy involves comprehensive questioning and analysis of a patient's symptoms and physical, emotional, and spiritual responses to each disorder. For example, a headache would be examined in regards to what brought it on, what makes it better or worse, is there a time of day that aggravates it? Is it limited to a certain part of the head, what were the circumstances that caused it, etc? After looking at that information a remedy would be chosen. And for two people with different answers to those questions, they'd get two different remedies. In Western medicine, it's the same headache. Classical homeopathy is used most often to treat a specific disease or symptom like headache or sore throat.

 

The benefits of Homeopathics:

• Homeopathy is not a "one size fits all" system of medicine like we see in most Western modalities. This is individualized medicine exclusive to each patient.
• Physical disease can be treated as well as emotional and spiritual issues; symptoms are not just covered up.
• No adverse side effects as there can be with prescription or OTC medication thus it is totally appropriate for children, pregnant women, even pets.
• Another benefit is the affordability of the substances. Homeopathics are VERY inexpensive, typically $5-7/remedy.
• These can produce lasting change in the body. It is not a temporary relief of symptoms; it helps the body truly heal itself.

Working with homeopathics for your family:

First I suggest writing down everything that is going on with the illness. Here are some things you'll want to know:

• How did it start? Gradually, suddenly, after exposure to cold, etc.
• Where does it hurt, specifically? Not just, my head hurts, but what part of the head? The  more detailed the better.
• What does it feel like? The more descriptors the better; heavy, scratchy, burning, itchy, is it on one side of the body more than the other?
• Is there discharge? What does it look like, copious, watery, yellow? Check this stuff out, it's a key to what the body is doing and helps you find a remedy.
• What personality signs are showing with the illness? Is the child suddenly clingy, angry,or pouty? Note what behaviors are different than normal.
• Is there anything bizarre? Like the extreme desire for cold liquids or crying until put in a bath tub. In homeopathy, sometimes the most bizarre symptom is the one that clues you in to the right remedy.

Now that you've written all that down, you need to find the right remedy. There are great pediatric homeopathy books on the market that key you in to the right remedy, and there are also remedy finders on line. I like the book Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines by Cummings and Ullman. There are sections for children and also most adult ailments and they give you ideas of what information you'll need for each symptom.  Once you find the right remedy, head to your local health food store and buy it. They are very affordable and because you give so little of it, it can last a long time.

 

Here's an example for you. A child comes home with an ear ache. He is craving physical contact and wants to be held. He wants fresh air, is not thirsty at all and there is yellow discharge from the ear and nose. This leads to the remedy Pulsatilla. Another child is in the later stages of the earache. She's weak, tired and whimpers but is not as interested in physical contact. She's chilly and likes being under warm blankets but her hands, feet and head are sweaty. The remedy for her would be Silica. (I found this information from the book I mentioned above.)

 

If this sounds too complicated for you there are other options. One is to consult a homeopathic practitioner in your area. They will take down the signs and symptoms and give you the right remedy. Another option is to use a combination remedy that is available in most health food stores. Companies take the most common remedies for any given ailment, combine them all together and sell them that way. They have combination remedies for everything from teething to PMS. A combination remedy I recommend for the flu is Oscillococcinum; it works best when you feel the first hint that illness is coming on. Homeopathics are available in sugar tablets, lactose tablets and liquids, they are all just as effective, just choose the one that works for you. Your health food store professional can point you in the right direction and often they have books available there that you can look through.

 

(Just a side note: If you buy an individual remedy, don't worry about what one or two disorders it has listed on the label. They just write some of the most common; it doesn't mean you can't use it for other things.)

 

I encourage you to explore this classical system of medicine and experiment to see if it might help you and your family. Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions.

 

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Kathy Gruver, MS, LMT, RM has been involved in massage and natural health for two decades. She owns Healing Circle Massage in Santa Barbara which was selected as a Best Practice by Massage Magazine two years in a row. Kathy is available for health consultations as well as lectures and workshops on natural health. www.healingcirclemassage.com